The Blue and Whites, with 32 points and in 17th place before the start of the matchday, face this rival with 39 points and in 9th place in the standings before this weekend’s fixtures got underway.
The match will be officiated by Saúl Ais Reig from Valencia. Up to now he has officiated Málaga CF in nine official games, all in the Second Division, with a balance of four wins, three draws and two defeats. Heading up the VAR is Iñaki Bikandi Garrido from the Basque Country.
Players in common Málaga CF-FC Cartagena
Sergio Magano*, Domínguez, Kiko Ramírez, Sabino, Josemi, Alberto Aguilar, Manolo Reina, Armando, Alcalá, Carpintero, Jordi Pablo, Manu Torres, Manolo Gaspar, Rubén, Keko, Harper and Mejías
(*) Atlético Malagueño player
(**) Former reserve team player Clavería is part of the current FC Cartagena squad and Shinji Okazaki, an FC Cartagena player, belonged to MCF in summer 2019.
(***) Homegrown players Abel Valenzuela, Gonzales Vigil, Roberto Camacho, Gato, Poley, Óscar Sielva and Kuki Zalazar were also part of Cartagena.
Coaches in common Málaga CF-FC Cartagena
None
(*) Gustavo Munúa, former Málaga CF player, was coach of FC Cartagena
Match info
- Javi Jiménez, Víctor Gómez, Escassi and long-term injured Luis Muñoz, are the Malaguistas on the verge of suspension.
- Brandon is MCF’s League 'pichichi' with five goals. Rubén Castro, with 15 goals, is Cartagena’s top scorer.
- At home in the League competition, Málaga CF have obtained seven victories, three draws and four defeats (24 points), scoring 14 goals and conceding 15.
- Away from home in LaLiga SmartBank, FC Cartagena have accumulated a total of four wins, two draws and eight defeats (14 points), scoring 13 goals and conceding 23.
Stats and facts
- The second time these rivals will play one another in an official match at La Rosaleda. The first clash, in the 20/21 season, ended in a 1-2 defeat for Málaga CF.
- In their past six seasons played in the silver division, on matchday 29, Málaga CF obtained four victories and two defeats.
